abilities

noun

plural of ability
as in capabilities
the physical or mental power to do something as a result of the accident the once-vigorous athlete lost the ability to walk

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abilities Later, when Saeng-gang and her mother leave the palace to hide Saeng-gang’s spirit-hearing abilities, the mother is poisoned by treats sent from the palace. — Kayti Burt, Time, 17 July 2026 Accessibility Apple gave Procreate a Design Award in 2022 for its accessibility features that suit people of diverse backgrounds, physical abilities, and languages. — Shelby Putnam Tupper, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026 Those records showed that several current and former Saint Alphonsus healthcare professionals who worked alongside Shapiro raised concerns and filed complaints about the surgeon’s abilities and his impacts on patient safety over the course of years. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026 On the other hand, Joe Milton III comes into 2026 with a year in Dallas under his belt, but a lack of strong confidence in his abilities along with it. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 Neither side has played to the best of their abilities thus far, but both powerhouses have been smart and savvy enough to get the job done. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 Researchers also tested participants’ memory and cognitive abilities at the start of the study and again two years later. — Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 14 July 2026 Five of six different brain tests showed diranersen recipients’ memory and other cognitive abilities still worsened but more slowly than those given dummy shots, Mummery said. — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026 From secret abilities to holes in the fabric of reality to the whims of the universe, there is no limit to the ways our favorite characters can jump between past and present and future. — Amy Tordoff, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abilities
  1. capabilities
  2. capacities
  3. skills
  4. talents
  5. faculties
  6. aptitudes
  7. competencies
Noun
  • Ukraine’s military and civil society have become the experts among Western allies, while Russia and Iran have developed their own capabilities.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • They're currently priced at US$269 (discounted from the list price of $299), which is fair given its basic feature set – and that's a lot less than other devices with AR capabilities and Android built in.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
Definition of capabilities
Noun
  • The $70-$140 range gets you larger sizes and capacities, higher wattages and extra features.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
  • Anyone who managed to win the big one even once is automatically in the one per cent of the one per cent, never mind twice, in different capacities.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of capacities
Noun
  • Municipal policing requires a level of training in patrol skills and enforcement techniques that differs substantially from the training provided to federal ICE Agents.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • The program focused on building the skills needed to handle ordnance while following a much shorter timeline than the traditional nine-month qualification course.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of skills
Noun
  • Walker is among the scores of All-Star talents leading a modest uptick of Black baseball players in the major leagues.
    — Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
  • The selection will also serve as a showcase for some of Spain’s finest acting talents.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 17 July 2026
Definition of talents
Noun
  • The Chicago Teachers Union voted by a 2-1 ratio to accept a plan to integrate faculties in the city’s public schools.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
  • Your intuitive faculties are on point today as the sun coordinates with Neptune.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Definition of faculties
Noun
  • For this class, the premise is that your purpose in life lies to the intersection of your values, your aptitudes and your interests.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • This model reflects Japan’s long-standing corporate culture, which prioritizes new hires for their general potential—their aptitudes and aspirations, as opposed to their current skill sets or university majors—and then trains them on the job.
    — GRACIA LIU-FARRER, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2025
Definition of aptitudes
Noun
  • The two companies also have separate core competencies, with Stripe focused on merchants and PayPal embracing 430 million consumer accounts.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • Key strategies include acquiring certifications and completing short courses to gain specific competencies quickly.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
Definition of competencies

Browse Nearby Words

abigails
abilities
ability
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Cite this Entry

“Abilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abilities. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of abilities for Spanish Speakers

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